Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proposals they have for encouraging and developing private and business leisure fishing in rivers and lakes in England and Wales.

The Environment Agency (EA) has a statutory duty under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975) to maintain, improve and develop fisheries. In addition, ministerial guidance they received in 2000 confirmed the need to:

- ensure the conservation and maintain the diversity of freshwater and migratory fish, and to conserve their aquatic environment.

- enhance the contribution migratory and freshwater fisheries make to the economy, particularly in remote rural areas and in areas with low levels of income; and

- enhance the social value of fishing as a widely available and healthy form of recreation.

The EA promotes angling as a widely available and healthy outdoors activity. Getting more people to take up fishing involves working closely with partners, particularly the Angling Trust. This work also results in social, health and wellbeing outcomes.

The EA provides advice and guidance for fishery owners, including commercially run venues, and invests income from rod licence sales to support projects to improve fisheries and facilities for anglers. This improves economic benefits for many angling stakeholders and businesses within local communities, many in rurally deprived areas.

These responsibilities are undertaken by the EA throughout England, the role in Wales sits with National Resources Wales.